Homeland Security & Cybersecurity

Governors play a critical role in homeland security and are responsible for protecting people, property, and businesses within their respective states and territories. Governors are confronted with a range of events—from natural and man-made disasters, disease outbreaks, acts of terrorism, along with the significant and continued growth of cyber-attacks against the United States.

To support Governors’ priorities, the Homeland Security & Cybersecurity Program provides technical assistance to Governors and their staffs on a range of national security policy issues, including cybersecurity policies and practices, targeted violence and terrorism prevention, energy assurance, public health emergency preparedness, and emergency management, including disaster response, recovery and resilience.

The Governor’s Guide To Public Health Preparedness

This guide serves as a primer on public health preparedness, detailing current strategies, available resources and existing partnerships that may help policymakers bridge the gap between the disciplines of public safety and public health. By doing so, governors can develop a stronger cooperative network for emergency response and provide their states with a safe and healthy future.


Governor’s Roadmap to Preventing Targeted Violence

This roadmap distills the latest research and draws from elements of public-health interventions to provide guidance to governors, state and local leaders, and other stakeholders on how to prevent ideologically inspired violence—whether political, gender-based, or religious. By taking a multidisciplinary, collaborative approach to preventing such violence, states can build safer and more resilient communities.


Governor’s Guide To Homeland Security

This guide covers fundamentals in homeland security best practices ranging from emergency management, fusion centers, grant management, the national guard, emergency declarations, critical infrastructure and other areas of homeland security that a governor and their policy staff would need awareness on.

Focus Areas

  • Critical Infrastructure Protection
  • Cybersecurity
  • Disaster Response, Recovery and Resilience
  • Emergency Preparedness
  • Energy Security
  • Homeland Security
  • Nation-State Threats
  • National Guard
  • Preventing Targeted Violence
  • Public Health Emergency Preparedness
  • School Safety  

Meet the Team

  • Jessica Davenport, Program Director
  • Phil Nichols, Senior Policy Analyst
  • Michelle Blakeslee, Policy Analyst
  • Aisley Wallace Harper, Policy Coordinator

Contact the Team

  • Governors Homeland Security Advisors Council

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  • Resource Center for State Cybersecurity

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  • Technical Assistance

    We provide complimentary consultation to states as they design and implement new programs and policies.

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  • Public Safety & Legal Counsels Program

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  • Defense/National Guard Resources

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  • Resilience Resources

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NGA Resources

Retreat on Improving Energy Resilience in the State of Oregon

Retreat on Improving Energy Resilience in the State of Oregon

December 11 – 12 | Salem, OR The state of Oregon, in partnership with the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center), is hosting a retreat on policies ...
Maryland Resilience Retreat

Maryland Resilience Retreat

November 29 -28 | Reisterstown, MD The State of Maryland, the Maryland Emergency Management Agency and the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security, in collaboration with the Maryland Department of Planning ...

Idaho Energy Resilience Retreat

November 15 - 16 | Boise, ID The state of Idaho, in partnership with the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) Environment, Energy, & Transportation and Homeland ...
NGA Urges the House Financial Services Committee to Oppose the Consumer Information Notification Requirement Act

NGA Urges the House Financial Services Committee to Oppose the Consumer Information Notification Requirement Act

The National Governors Association (NGA) released the following statement regarding H.R. 6743, the Consumer Information Notification Requirement Act: "The National Governors Association appreciates the House Financial Services Committee’s commitment to ...

NGA Commends Congress for Taking a Step Closer to Funding the US National Guard and Department of Defense of fiscal year 2019 defense spending legislation

WASHINGTON—The National Governors Association (NGA) today released a statement regarding Senate passage for the fiscal year 2019 defense spending legislation: “Earlier this year, governors requested that Congress include robust funding ...

Governors Commend Final Passage of the FY19 National Defense Authorization Act

WASHINGTON—Today the National Governors Association (NGA) commends Congress for its swift action to pass H.R. 5515, The John S. McCain Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).   ‘We ...

Energy Resilience for Water & Wastewater Systems

Water and wastewater systems are highly dependent on reliable supplies of electricity. Long duration power outages can interrupt water supplies, leading to adverse health impacts and lost economic activity. Speakers ...
NGA helps Indiana, North Carolina, West Virginia and Wisconsin Enhance State Cybersecurity

NGA helps Indiana, North Carolina, West Virginia and Wisconsin Enhance State Cybersecurity

WASHINGTON —The National Governors Association (NGA) Resource Center for State Cybersecurity announced today that it will help four states—Indiana, North Carolina, West Virginia and Wisconsin—modernize their cybersecurity plans and infrastructure ...

Testimony – FEMA Grant Funding

Written testimony by Governor Sandoval and Governor Bullock on behalf of NGA to the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee on the importance of FEMA grant programs for state ...